River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-10-20
.Hoorn exclaimed the lad. .wl

Hoo" exclaimed the lad. "What
you a-cryin' for?"
Then he added. as a thought seemed
to strike him: Somebody ben a.
kickin' you7''
yes" answered Jack slowly.
Somebody has kicked me very close to
the hear"
Boobies stared in owlish wonder.
"Don't you think you're pretty big to
cry about it?" he said presently.
Then they sat for long time listen
ing to the approach of the storm. that
for two hours had been muttering off
to the eastward. 1t had evidently
been tempest, cyclone perhaps. off
there; but now its power was some
what spent Still the lightning that ac-
companied it was often almost blind
ing in its intensity.
Presently the storm broke. and the
thunder roared and crashed as
is seldom heard any where but
upon the Western plains. The
air seemed surcharged with cleo
triciiy, and often there were
little points of electric fire dancing and
swapping on the instruments. ''Hoor'
cackled Boobies. ''most as good as
Fourth of July" Then. while the
storm was at its height there came a
hurried. nervous rattling of the
sounder.
Number 8 is calling usy' Jack
cried. and sprang to the key. He an
swered the call, and 4 moment later
The sounder began to click frantically.
Jack grasped a pen and blank. He
had but rapidly jotted down five words
as the sounder clicked them OFF when
there came a binding flash of light
ming. accompanied instantly by deaf
ening crash of thunder. The bolt
seemed tn have exploded in the room,
and the flash momentarily blinded
Boobies. Without a sound Jack fell
forward One hand dropped across
the sounder and hushed the click
ing of the instrument Bob
bles sprang forward. and ras-
ing Jack half-dragged and
half-carried him to the couch at the
opposite side of the room.
As quick as liberated the sounder
began again its frantic clicking. Like
flash the purport of the many les
sons in telegraphy Jack had labori-
ously beaten into his silly head, and he
had Immediately forgotten. seemed to
dawn upon Bobbles. and clearly he
read the ticking of the instrument
"WdShcd out " were the last words of
the hurried message. Then came the
sound-signature of the operator at
Station Number s. ten miles to the
east and Just across Big Rock Greek.
With all the confidence of an ex-
perienced operator the boy placed his
fingers on the key. On the blank
before him lay the few words Jack had
penned.
at all hazards hold NuDlber-"
That was all. There the break had
come.
Carefully the boy moved the little
switch and slowly clicked of the
words:
Struck bg lightning. Go on four
number
He waited with bated breath. In a
moment the answer began to tick
and he wrote it as it came. The COM
plete message read:
at all hazards hold Number 3. Rock
Creek Drudge Just t0ashed out. !"
Number Three. That was the can
non-ball fast mail traini In the roar
of the storm and the excitement of
events Boobies had not heard the APP
prOach of the train; but now. as he
wheeled in his chair, the engine
dashed past the door, and through
the storm he saw the jolly face of
Mike Walsh. the fireman. He rushed
out upon the platform. Ihree-fourths
of the train had dashed past as he
reached the edge of the planks. and
the steps of the last coach came even
with him. All the strength of his
muscles was taxed TO the utmost rs he
leaped forward and c.utched the rail
with one hand
The force of the train jerked him al
most into horizontal position, and it
seemed as if his wrist would part with
the enormous srain. II, strOve TO
grasp the rail with the other hand but
failed.
Conductor Hamilton, who happened
TO be close to one of the rear windows.
saw the apparently insane act of the
boy, and rushed angriIy out on the
platform.